TWO PROSPECTS TO PLAY IN WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes prospects Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Sweden) and Mike Lee (United States) will each represent his country in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, which will be played Dec. 26, 2009 to Jan. 5, 2010 in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

Ekman-Larsson, an 18-year-old defenseman, was drafted by the Coyotes with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 25 games this season with Leksand of Sweden’s second-highest professional league (Sweden-2) , Ekman-Larsson has recorded 6-7-13 and 70 penalty minutes (PIM). Last season, he appeared in 39 games with Leksand as a 17-year-old, where he recorded 3-14-17 and 32 PIM. As the youngest player on his team, Ekman-Larsson also led the league with a +44 rating. The 6-foot-2, 176-pound native of Karlskrona, Sweden represented Team Sweden at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship, collecting 2-6-8 in six games, helping Sweden to a fifth place finish.

Mike Lee

Lee, a 19-year-old goaltender, was drafted by the Coyotes in the third round (91st overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. As a freshman at St. Cloud State this season, Lee has posted a record of 4-5-3 with a 2.63 goals against average (GAA) and a .909 save percentage (SV%) in 12 games. Lee posted a record of 26-15-4 with a 2.40 GAA, a .918 SV% and three shutouts in 48 games with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL) last season while being named 2008-09 USHL Goaltender of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Roseau, Minnesota was also named to the 2008-09 USHL All-Rookie Team and played in the 2009 USHL All-Star Game. In addition, Lee was named Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year by USA Hockey.

NHL Network U.S. will televise every Team USA game, all of the medal-round games and six additional preliminary-round match-ups, bringing the total to 16 games – all in high definition. It is the third consecutive year NHL Network U.S. is providing coverage of the IIHF World Junior Championship.